Occupational mercury exposure

The International Academy of Oral Medicine and Toxicology (IAOMT) was performing a study measuring the amount of mercury generated during a “safe” removal using IAOMT mercury safe protocols. They then removed each one of the engineering protocols step by step until none were left. We were there to document the mind blowing results.

In addition to Ty Jones, we took along a new cameraman, Travis Wears, who I’d met on a Walmart shoot earlier in the year. Travis has been a huge help with navigating the intracies of our upcoming Kickstarter fundraising campaign.

It’s no secret that the amount of mercury generated during the placement, polishing and removal of mercury fillings vastly exceed occupational safety levels, so IAOMT could not perform this study using a human. Thus, “Fred the Head” Ryerson, a dental manikin head was used.

The IAOMT hired Alex Hummel from Mercury Instruments USA to come in and take the readings for the mercury vapor using his companies Mercury Tracker 3000, a portable mercury vapor analyzer. They also hired an industrial hygienist to collect the mercury contaminated particulate matter generated during an amalgam removal.

Unfortunately, I cannot discuss the results of the study looking at the effectiveness of the IAOMT safe engineering protocols during amalgam removal and the impact it has on mercury vapor and particulate levels. The reason: The IAOMT is looking to get their paper published in a peer reviewed journal. But, the scientific literature shows that these levels without any precautions violate occupational safety regulations.

Pictures from the shoot can be accessed on the right. Ty Jones discusses some fo the challenges with using our new camera rig that we took with us.